No apologies

I make no apologies for reblogging about a very special little girl who was so tragically taken from us on Sunday.
This is difficult to write but I feel that it has to be shared.
Today we laid her to rest.
The funeral started at her home, the one she shared with her foster mum and 2 foster siblings, Musa looked very bewildered and Vivi didn't really know what was going on. A collection was then made to help with the funeral costs.
 After much singing, Rahma was bought into the room, after prayers the top 1/4 of the casket was opened to reveal her face, people were invited to walk around the casket to pay their last respects. I found the opening of the casket the most harrowing experience, seeing that little one in a place where she should not have been. She had been dressed in white cloth with small cotton roses around her neckline. Strangely, people took photographs of her, apparently this is quite normal. we then went to the burial ground where, after more prayers and Rahma being laid to rest. I was given the honour by Batilda, her mother, of placing a flower on the grave on behalf of all volunteers past and present. This I did on their behalf as I know that there are many people scattered over the globe who have their own special memories of Rahma. I also gave Batilda a card signed by me and mentioning that many people have sent their best wishes via the social media
I returned to Rahma's home in the back of a truck where we sat and spoke of our memories of her.
It was a difficult day but one that I had to go through, never in my wildest dreams did I think that the start of my retirement would be like this.
I hope that Batilda, her family and those close to her can look back with pride knowing that, as short as Rahma's life was, it was filled with love
Sleep well sweet one xx

For Rahma

On Sunday 22nd of December a little girl lost her life to a motor cycle taxi driver. Road traffic accidents are a common occurrence here, life is hard and everyone is trying to make money where they can-drive just that little bit quicker to earn a few more shillings, overtake any which way. But at what cost? Was it really worth a few shillings to put a child's life at risk and actually end it? Accidents do happen but was this one avoidable.
A family and community,here in Tanzania and worldwide because Rahma came into the lives of so many volunteers who will each have their memories of her, are in mourning. Her mum Batilda, her brother Musa and sister Vivi, none related by blood but a family in the true sense of the word-they love and care for each other, are in pain, I hope that they know how many people share that pain and are thinking of them
Rahma you were the sweetest child, you had an infectious laugh and your love for life shone out of you. Rest in peace sweet one

A month has gone by

A month has gone by

I’ve now been in Tanzania a month, it’s flown by, and I feel that I have achieved quite a lot-found and settled into a house, still things to sort out but it’s going well, found out that I have a guava tree and a chilli plant in my garden, thanks Collins, have made a trade off with one of the workers at the centre, she will show me the best places to shop, I’ll teach her how to bake cakes and biscuits. Met some amazing women who are working their socks off to improve their lives, one collects and sells discarded plastic bottles for a few shillings, they are dropped off at the centre and she walks 45 minutes home with several hundred bottles on her head, another took her 2 nieces out of an orphanage at the age of 12 months when most would leave them there until they are 2, she catches 2 mini busses with one strapped to the front, the other to the back of her so that she can work as a tailor at the centre, she also has 2 of her own children and her husband has left her. Each woman has a story to tell as do the mamas of the children whom the centre provides free day care for, without it they would struggle to work

Friday was party time at the centre, all kids received a special meal, pressie thanks to online donations plus an outfit of donated second hand clothes. Each family received a water filter which is produced locally and provides clean drinking water for up to 5 years-again supplied by online donations, what greater gift than to provide clean water for families thus massively reducing ill health. I use the same filter without any problem, the cost is way above the reach of most local families but is very much needed.
So, 2 weeks off before I start work, by then I’ll be retired and my much needed visa will be being processed.
Have a peaceful time over the holidays and continue reading in 2014
Much love to all
pics show mama juma and family with their water filter mama mayassa, a fantastic jewellery maker, with hers, Aubree's boys in their school clothes from Aldi, Great Harwood  and baby juma with his moustache, thanks Scott

 

 

the first mangoes, lots of rain and a bank doing good for once

The first mangoes have fallen from the tree, not ripe so they are sitting patiently on the window sill waiting for the sun to appear, which it does occasionally. We seem to have entered the rainy season, most days it rains+++ then the sun comes out but today it rained on and off all day. I'm so grateful to be in my house rather than the lodge, as nice at it was it was not the sort of place to spend a rainy day in.
Spent a couple of days at the centre, the kids are getting used to seeing a strange lady appearing and some of them will actually come up to me without prompting. The tailors continue to do a fantastic job and I've asked one of them to make me a computer case in the new year.
Santander has actually turned up trumps and refunded the ££ I didn't get from an atm 12 days ago, they didn't refund the charges but at least I haven't had to wait 45 working days which was their initial estimate
Here are some pics of the house and my four lonely, unripe mangoes

It's been a good week, it's been a bad week

First I found a great house at a great price, garden, trees, perfect, 1 hour before signing the contract, the owner stated that she was letting to family. Frantic phone calls to friends and agents to be on the look out.
Next I lost/had stolen my phone on the dala dala
The agent showed me a house miles from the man road and was basically a building site, did have 2 loos though!
The wonderful? atm at the ABC bank took money from my account but did not stump up the ££, 1 expensive phone call to the UK later and it will take 45 working days to refund the moneyThank you to whoever invented overdrafts and to the person who has decided to pay staff early this month. Relocation, even to a country where things cost far less, is still expensive
The agent decided to show me a house which was slightly above my budget but it's great, lots of space, a garden, walkable to the shops and a 15 minute dala dala ride to town. The landlord has completed all repairs as he said he would but there is still an issue with the water, hopefully he will resolve this as he has the other things. It's so nice to have a lounge and a kitchen after 2 weeks of living in a lodge
There are inconveniences in living here and I'm sure that I will find more but the sun is shining, in a few weeks I'll be able to pick a mango off my tree for breakfast and have avocados in the spring, I've spent time at the project with some great kids and women. I tried to explain to them what music festival is-some of their products will be sold at British and American festivals next year, they asked me if Westlife would be singing???
For some reason I can't post pictures, will try next time